Jumping Spider Care Sheet

This care sheet covers a variety of jumping spider species, including:

Phidippus apacheanus

Phidippus audax

Phidippus bidentatus

Phidippus johnsoni

Phidippus putnami

Phidippus regius

Overview

Typical Appearance & Behavior

• Jumping spiders have compact, robust bodies with powerful legs and large, forward-facing eyes
• Many jumping spiders possess trichromatic vision, allowing them to see UV, green, and other colors
• Jumping Spider are curious, active hunters who stalk prey and leap with precision
• Jumping spiders use their silk mainly for building hammocks and safety lines, not for catching prey
• Jumping spiders look like they are waving. They wave by moving their legs and pedipalps for sensing their surroundings, courtship and identifying a threat

Temperament

• Jumping spiders are generally docile. Bites are rare and comparable to a bee sting
• These spiders can be very timid and are more likely to flee or jump away if startled
• With time, some jumping spiders may enjoy interacting with their pet parents

Characteristics

Habitat

Habitat Size

An appropriately sized and shaped habitat at least three times their leg-span long and two times their leg-span wide is required to accommodate normal behavior and exercise.

Building Your Habitat

• Decor: Provide climbing structures (silk-safe plants, climbing decorations and a hideaway). Secure with magnets or food-safe adhesives. If any materials are sourced from an outdoor space, ensure they have never been sprayed with chemicals as they can be toxic to your pet
• Substrate: Coconut fiber, moss, sand or soil mix to retain some moisture. Avoid gravel and artificial turf
• Temperature: 72 to 80°F (22 to 26°C) preferred. Can survive room temps but may thrive better slightly warmer
• Lighting: Bright indirect light or LED daylight cycle (~12 hours). Avoid heat lamps and direct sunlight
• Humidity: 50 to 70%, mist enclosure lightly once daily. Droplets should dry within 1 to 2 hours. Avoid stagnant high humidity to help prevent mold

Cleaning Your Habitat

• Spot clean weekly (remove prey remains, droppings)
• Try not to disturb the web hammocks created
• Replace substrate as needed, typically monthly
• Thoroughly clean and disinfect the enclosure between re-setups

What Do Jumping Spiders Eat?

A well-balanced jumping spider diet consists of:

• Spiderlings (1st to 3rd instar): D. melanogaster fruit flies
• Juveniles (4th to 6th instar): D. hydei fruit flies, small flies
• Adults: Houseflies, blue bottle flies, small crickets, mealworms, waxworms
• Jumping spiders do not require a vitamin or calcium supplement, but it can be beneficial to provide their food with a vitamin supplement to gut load prior to feeding

Feeding frequency:

• Spiderlings: 2 to 3 fruit flies daily
• Juveniles: Feed every 3 to 5 days; amounts will depend on size of insect offered
• Adults: Feed every 5 to 10 days; amounts will depend on size of insect offered

Water:

• No bowls; provide fine mist spray for drinking droplets

Things to remember when feeding your jumping spider:

• Prey should be smaller than or equal to spider’s body length
• Remove uneaten prey within an hour; flies are safer to leave than crickets
• Avoid overfeeding as this can cause an engorged abdomen and molting risks

Care & Handling

• Handle with caution; their fragile abdomen can rupture if dropped
• Use a soft brush or allow spider to climb voluntarily
• Always have a “catch cup” nearby
• Avoid handling during pre-molt or right after molting

Molting & Growth

• Jumping spiders molt roughly 8 times before maturity
• Spiders may seal themselves in a hammock for days or weeks; do not disturb
• Ensure hydration and stable humidity to prevent mismolts
• Adult jumping spiders do not molt again after maturity

Health

Signs of a Healthy Jumping Spider

• Active, alert, exploring during the day
• Rounded, plump abdomen
• Feeding regularly
• Builds hammocks/webbing

Red Flags

• Shrunken or shriveled abdomen
• Refusal to eat outside of pre-molt
• Uncoordinated or jerky movements
• Frequent falls or staying only on the ground
• Dull coloration or lethargy

Common Jumping Spider Health Issues

Where to Buy

Jumping spiders are available for purchase at your local Petco location. Call ahead to check availability.

Supplies Checklist

• Appropriately sized arboreal enclosure
• Fine mist sprayer
• Fruit fly culture / feeder insects
• Substrate
• Moss
• Hideaway place
• Climbing decor
• Plants
• Thermometer
• Humidity gauge
• Crickets
• Cricket keeper
• Cricket food
• Cricket quencher

Habitat mates

• Jumping spiders should be housed individually

Additional Care Sheets

• Arboreal Tarantula

Notes and Resources

• Ask a store associate about Petco's selection of products available for the care and happiness of your new pet. All products carry a 100% money-back guarantee.
• Because invertebrates are potential carriers of infectious diseases, such as salmonella, always wash your hands before and after handling your invertebrate or habitat contents to help prevent the potential spread of disease.
• Pregnant women, children under the age of 5, senior citizens and people with weakened immune systems should contact their physicians before purchasing or caring for invertebrates and should consider having a pet other than an invertebrate.
• Go to the Centers for Disease Control at cdc.gov/healthypets for more information about invertebrates and disease.

The information on this care sheet is not a substitute for veterinary care. If your pet is sick, or if you need additional information, please contact your veterinarian as appropriate.